Archive for February, 2013

“I can’t do my homework! It’s too hard!!” Many of you have heard this complaint countless times. Some children use this as an excuse not to do their work; however, others actually mean it. Often, children have trouble with reading, writing, or math because they have difficulty understanding what they see. Visual perceptual or visual processing difficulties affect how the brain perceives and processes visual information. If we can’t make sense of what we are reading or writing, how are we expected to learn and acquire new information being taught to us? Unfortunately, many of the children that experience these difficulties go undiagnosed for years. As a result, they may become frustrated or bored while in class and act out because they can’t see (understand) what’s on the board or read with relative ease. It is usually the case that children with problems seeing are often considered the “behavioral child”.

Living with visual perceptual difficulties can be very confusing and disconcerting. Therefore, if you believe that your child is experiencing difficulty in school because of a visual perceptual difficulty, seek the help of an occupational therapist or vision specialist. Through the implementation of adaptations and/ or strategies your child can have greater success while in the school environment. Just because he or she may have visual perceptual difficulties, doesn’t mean that they can not learn and overcome this challenge. Occupational therapists and vision specialists have the training needed to help your child succeed. Below are a list of possible warning signs that your child may be suffering from a visual perceptual deficit:

Letter reversals

Difficulty learning the alphabet

Difficulty recognizing words

Understanding basic math concepts

Maintaining letters on lines and within page margins

Organizing written information on paper

Holds paper close to face

Excessive rubbing of the eyes

Constant squinting/ blinking

Watery eyes or swollen eyelids

After meeting with a professional to discuss your child’s concerns, it is important to develop a plan that you can incorporate while at home. Here is a free website that can be useful which contains exercises to help your child improve his/ her visual perceptual skills in a fun and interactive way. www.eyecanlearn.com

Extra, extra!! Read all about it!! One common potential danger we face on a daily basis, is a routine and mindless act that we perform at least 365 times a year. That’s right!! There are times where something as simple as taking a shower can be hazardous to your health. I will explain… The chances of suffering a fatal accident while in the shower are greater than those of being hit in a terrorist attack. We have become more aware of the dangers we face relating to gun violence, terrorist attacks, and nuclear weapons. However, we have become less vigilant when it comes to the dangers we can encounter in our own homes. I recently read an article published in the New York Times that discussed this issue and how seniors 65 years and older are at greater risk. It is important to understand that some activities of daily living, such as taking a shower, can become more challenging as our functional capabilities diminish. An active lifestyle and exercise can help you maintain an adequate level of function. However, there are instances where this is not enough and accommodations need to be made to the environment. These modifications can make the living space more user-friendly so that the senior can perform their everyday activities more comfortably and safely. Follow the link below to read the entire article, “That Daily Shower Can Be a Killer”.